Idol Chatter: One of the worst nights ever

FILE - This Nov. 24, 2012 file photo shows rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj performing on her Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite having a big year in music, Nicki Minaj didn't receive any Grammy nominations. The 30-year-old had one of last year's biggest hits with the multiplatinum dance-pop anthem “Starships.” Her sophomore album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” has reached gold status and launched other hits on the rap and R&B charts. But Minaj was shunned out when the Grammys announced this year's nominees, though the animated performer earned three nominations last year, including best new artist and best rap album for her platinum debut, “Pink Friday.” (AP Photo/SNPA, David Rowland, file)
— AP

FILE - This Nov. 24, 2012 file photo shows rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj performing on her Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite having a big year in music, Nicki Minaj didn't receive any Grammy nominations. The 30-year-old had one of last year's biggest hits with the multiplatinum dance-pop anthem “Starships.” Her sophomore album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” has reached gold status and launched other hits on the rap and R&B charts. But Minaj was shunned out when the Grammys announced this year's nominees, though the animated performer earned three nominations last year, including best new artist and best rap album for her platinum debut, “Pink Friday.” (AP Photo/SNPA, David Rowland, file)
/ AP

Somewhere Thursday night, let’s say Kansas, an elderly couple about to retire is flipping around the television dial one last time before retiring for the night. Ethel’s in the kitchen getting a cup of tea, Harvey is at the helm with the remote control.

Ethel returns to the living room and proclaims, “Harvey, what on earth are you watching?”

“Well, is supposed to be some sort of singing competition called American Idol,” he answered.

“Then why is there a gentleman dressed as a woman rolling about on the floor?” Ethel wondered.

He couldn’t answer.

A little later on when another contestant appeared with a golf club and then did was sorta singing to the tune of “Rocket Man” she was astonished again. “Why did that young gentleman shake so with nerves and just why did he fall to his knees when the song ended?”

“I don’t know, darling,” Harvey responded, “but I’ve had enough of this. I’m turning it off and going to bed.”

After Thursday’s show, American Idol needs to take note because a lot of people just might be turning it off and going to bed. Thursday’s show just might have hit the low-water mark in AI’s 12-year run.

It was the second night of four 2-hour shows when 10 of the Top 40 finalists perform and 5 of those 10 are sent packing. On the outside, maybe two of the five the judges retained are worthy of Top 20 consideration. But the egregious part was the fact that the five they sliced and diced made it to the top 40. What were they thinking to advance Jimmy Smith, Kevin Harris, Chris Watson, Johnny Keyser and most of all JDA (yes, it was he who was dressed like a female and attempting to sing “Rumor Has It.”)?